Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1887-03-24
Politics and Crime in South Carolina.

The frightful record of crime in Edge
field, South Carolina, during the past
thirteen years, which was presented in
our telegraphic columns yesterday, is by
no means as surprising as 1t is horrible
One hundred and twelve murders III
that period of time, very few of which
have ever been punished, is long and
bloody catalogue indeed, but it is the
natural result of Democratic Kukluxism
in South Carolina. Just about thirteen
years ago the efforts of the Democratic
leaders to suppress the colored vote be-
gan, and first attracted general public
attention through the brutal massacre
of negro voters at Hamburg. in Aiken
county. adjoining Edge6eld. In this un-
provoked and brutal slaughter, prOmi.
nent Democratic politicians and officials
took part, and the leader in it was Gen.
NJ. G. Butler. of Edgefield, now United
States Senator. The reign of terror and
violence thus inaugurated was main
tained until in six out of the seven Con-
gressional districts in the State an ag-
gregate of only lit votes we're cast in
opposition to the Democratic candidates
at the election of 1851 To expect any
thing else than long record of the
most brutal crimes in section of the
country where the law is trampled upon
and laughed at by those who should be
its most active supporters-the educa>
ted and wealthier classes would be to
expect more of human nature than is
justified.
The brutal and steady repression
practiced upon the colored voters of
Edgefeld county by their Democratic
oppressors has literally effAeed the Re
publican vote therein. In 1874 the
county cast 6.275 votes for Congressman.
of which 1896 were Republican and
2,S79 Democratic. immediately there
after the Democrats introduced the shot
gun and midnight raids into politics. In
1882 the vote of the county had been re-
duced to 4,543, of which 1,149 were Re-
publican and 1894 Democratic. Two
years later the vote of Edgetield had
been still further reduced to .3.S79. of
which 29O were Republican aud 1859
Democratic. 1t would seem that bull
doing could go no further than that
in wiping out the Republican vote, but
it did. In 1856 the total vote of the
Congressional district of which Edge
field is a part was only 5,235 for Con-
gressman, Of which 5,212 were Demo-
cratic and 20 "scattering"-not single
Republican vote in the district being
counted, perchance it was cast.
In the State at large the showing is
almost as bad as in EdefiReld county. In
1874 the total vote for Congressman was
14l 1903, of which 79,2O9 were Republi'
can. In 1882 the total was 12l, ,399, of
which the Republicans aud Independ-
euts polled 50,022. In 1884 the total WAS
90. $50, of which 20 O31 were Republican.
The climax was apparently reached in
November last, when only 39.072 votes
were polled in the whole State for Con.
gressmen, of which 5,961 were counted
for Robert Smalls in the Seventh dis
trict. III as scattering" and the re
mainder for the Democratic candidates.
Not vote was allowed to be cast for
Republican candidates in six out of sew
en- districts.
Thirteen years of Democratic bull
doziug and Democratic shotgun prac-
tice have crushed the hopes and spirit
of the majority of voters in the State
until they have practically disappeared
from politics. Is it any wonder that the
history of one of its strongest Demo-
cratic counties should be record of
crimes written in oodP-Cleveland
Leader.